A cycling vacation that won't disappoint
Our Solvang cycling camp is all about getting on the bike and loving every minute of it. Eat, sleep, ride, drink amazing wine, and let us take care of the details. It’s basically a vacation for those who are passionate about being on the bike. At this camp, we’ll ride all the highlights the Santa Ynez Valley offers. Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley are well known to the wine connoisseur as a highly desirable region off the beaten wine vineyard path in a beautiful part of the central coast of California. The same appeal rings true for cyclists, and the quiet country roads offer a paradise for those looking for an escape. Professional cycling teams have used this area as a base for training camps, especially because in both 2007 & 2009 The Amgen Tour of California had time trials in the Santa Ynez Valley. We’ll be staying just outside Solvang at the award-winning Ballard Inn & Restaurant. When not out riding, we’ll have plenty of time to relax and indulge in some of the region’s finest food and wines.
The Food
The Ballard Inn & Gathering Table is the focal point of our meals during our Solvang camps. The Ballard Inn provides a healthy breakfast with plenty of variety each morning before we head out on our ride. In addition, we’ll be in good hands with award-winning Chef Budi Kazali serving up three delicious dinners on-site at The Ballard Inn. Our other two dinners are out at favorite local restaurants in Solvang & Buellton. All meals are covered by The Cycling House, and we will run a separate tab for beer & wine. In keeping with tradition, this camp also includes Cycling House staff-prepared lunches served family-style after rides or a picnic lunch during the ride. The food in Solvang is fantastic and we look forward to sharing this awesome experience with you.
The Rides
Solvang, offers those elements that we all look for in perfect rides: low traffic, beautiful scenery, and varied terrain. Pedaling miles of unbroken road through the lush vineyards, it is quickly evident why many professional cycling teams have trained for their European races here in the Santa Ynez Valley. During our week, we ride to the Pacific Ocean, past countless vineyards, and conquer Mount Gibraltar. New for 2020, we will load up the bikes and drive over to Santa Barbara – kicking off our day at Handlebar Coffee. In Santa Barbara riders tackle Mount Gibraltar, a climb that has been used as a mountaintop finish in the Tour of California; the official climb is just over 10km long, climbing 2,600′, and an average grade of 8%. (If you check this segment on Strava you will probably recognize the name at the top of that list, Egan Bernal, winner of the 2019 Tour De France.) Throughout the week there is a nice balance of challenging rides that are enjoyable for both beginners and advanced riders; many of the days have multiple options to make a ride longer or shorter. We finish up the week with a ride along one of the most beautiful stretches of road in the Santa Ynez Valley, following Foxen Canyon before turning up Tepesquet Canyon (featured in the 2019 Tour of California). The riding in Solvang is similar to riding gravel, the road surface is not always perfect, but the lack of traffic is a pleasant surprise, and is one of the huge reasons that we keep coming back!
